How does in your opinion, the C43 AMG compare perfromance wise to the CLK430? I raised this question on another board and was promptly advised that the C43 is "not really" an AMG, and there is for the most part no difference between the two cars with respect to performance.
I have owned both and can say that there is a noticeable difference.
Of course there's a difference: the 430 is 275BHP standard tune, the 43 is 300 plus with AMG manifold and other tweaks. Unfortunately a lot of AMG forums seem to fill up with young kids who stick a badge on the back of a C180, thinking it makes them go faster, so you wind up stuck between them on the one hand, and people with one of only four AMG Hammers made in sky-blue metallic (or whatever). The accusation about the 43 not being "real" AMG is all part of that problem, and a sad issue for those who just want simple mechanical facts...
Thanks for the perspective. I have had since this topic first started on another board, a rather heated debate (for the most part from the c180 wanabees) on how the C43 is just basicly a 4 door CLK430.I have since borrowed a 2000 CLK 430 just to prove the point that the difference of 27 Hp is really substantial.My brother an I switched back and forth between the c43 and the CLK430 and the results were very conclusive.The C43 handily out accelerates the CLK430 by a wide margin.. No, we don't have the "Autobahn" here, but there are lots of long wide highways which seem to work great for high speed motoring.
I saw a white 300E that had C43 and AMG badge on the trunk. I was laughing my ass off.. I just see why people would badge something and think that it's okay. I think it's the most idiotic thing that anyone can do. It's just like the guys who put Brabus, AC Schnitzer, Dinan etc. badges on. These badges should really be limited..
Why did AMG bother with the C36, when they could have made a C430 with exactly the same performance? If they already had the 5.5 AMG, which is basically the same as the 4.3 with a larger displacement, why didnt they just make all C55's with little extra cost?
It's a matter of timescale. The 55 isn't a larger 43; the 55 is based on a different block. The 36 happened because there was already an E36 in the W124 range before the C class came out, so the powertrain was already built.
I know about Austin - I've driven in from the north just once, and there's some big space there between corners or cops...<br>
The badge cult thing is very odd. My 43 is entirely de-badged - from what I can see of the bill of sale, it has never had the badges on from new. Why the C180 crowd (Spaetzle-boys?) imagine that the badges do them any good is an eternal mystery to me...
The differences between the C43 and the CLK430 are: 1 Obviously gross vehicle weight.
2 C43 uses the 55 AMG air intake system, good for 15 to 20 hp
3 The gears in the C43 are 3.07 while the CLK uses 2.80, there's your acceleration factor.
The physical intake manifold, (the aluminum one) is the same on both cars. Camshafts are the same, hell whole motor is identical to the one in the coupe.
I don't have a problem with people putting AMG or Brabus badges on their cars (if they got it bodykit & wheels), the problem I have is with people putting E55 badges on their E200K's
The differences between the C43 and the CLK430 are: 1 Obviously gross vehicle weight.
2 C43 uses the 55 AMG air intake system, good for 15 to 20 hp
3 The gears in the C43 are 3.07 while the CLK uses 2.80, there's your acceleration factor.
The physical intake manifold, (the aluminum one) is the same on both cars. Camshafts are the same, hell whole motor is identical to the one in the coupe.
There is a bit more to the C43 than that:
From MBUSA website "AMG computer chip, enlarged fuel injectors, ... Intake system AMG-modified magnesium 2-stage resonance intake manifold increases intake runners at lower rpm and uses enlarged diameter runners at higher rpm ... electronic 5-speed automatic, AMG-modified for crisper, higher-rpm upshifts ... Solid, larger-diameter front and rear stabilizer bars, reinforced upper front control arms, AMG-Bilstein shock absorbers, and progressive-rate springs ...".
From Edmunds.com "air cleaner assembly that increases airflow ... AMG also replaces the camshafts with lighter weight units."
From Road & Track "...oil cooled pistons ..."
Discs and front calipers from the S-500/600 series.
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